Again, QB is major focus for Virginia in spring practice

Watford could face bigger challenge

It's becoming an unfortunate tradition in Charlottesville for Virginia to enter spring practice without its quarterback position settled, and this spring is no different.

Coming off a 2-10 season, U.Va. coach Mike London knows he and his staff need to be precise with evaluations. By the spring game April 12, London wants to have a clear picture regarding the guys he can rely on at quarterback, some of the skill positions around his quarterback and along the defensive line.

After finishing last or second-to-last in the Atlantic Coast Conference last season in scoring offense (19.8 points per game), scoring defense (33.2 points per game), passing efficiency, yards per completion (9.2), yards per pass attempt (5) and turnover margin (minus-0.42 per game), it's apparent a lot needs to be fixed. Here are a few of the biggest questions facing U.Va. as it opens spring practices Saturday:

1. What's the deal with the unsettled situation at quarterback?

After what can only be considered a less-than-scintillating first season as the starter (57 percent completions, 2,202 yards, eight touchdowns, 15 interceptions), Hampton High graduate David Watford will have to earn the job all over again. It's going to be more challenging this time. Last spring, Watford seemed like a perfectly reasonable option considering Michael Rocco had decided to transfer, Phillip Sims wasn't in shape and was soon to be out the door himself, and Greyson Lambert and Matt Johns had never played in a college game. Now, Lambert and Johns, both 6-foot-5 rising sophomores, have a year of working as backups behind Watford, a rising junior, in offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild's system under their belts. If Lambert in particular shows he has picked up some things after playing in little more than a mop-up role — other than the significant playing time he got in relief of Watford against Virginia Tech — Lambert could be a serious threat to start.

2. Can Jake McGee make a big impact at wide receiver?

Though he lacks elite speed for a receiver, he more than makes up for it with athleticism and ability to make the spectacular catch. In short, yeah, he could make some noise as a receiver in Charlottesville. Other than perhaps rising senior Darius Jennings, U.Va. doesn't really have much of an established, dependable (emphasis on the second descriptor) presence at receiver. McGee, who is also a rising senior, led the team last season with 43 catches for 395 yards and two touchdowns at tight end. He's never had much of a reputation as a strong blocker, so McGee may feel more at home in open space.

3. Who are candidates to step up in key positions on the defensive line?

U.Va. said goodbye to starting end Jake Snyder and starting tackle Brent Urban last season. Neither player was much of a presence in terms of pass rush, but Snyder was one of the team's unquestioned leaders and Urban (when healthy) had a penchant for harassing quarterbacks in other ways (team-high nine pass breakups). Rising senior Chris Brathwaite is back at tackle after spending last year away from the program to work on his grades. Coach Mike London said Brathwaite will be expected to help the team, but he needs to get in shape. Rising sophomore Donte Wilkins, who started four games last season, could have the inside track entering the spring at the starting tackle job alongside returning starter David Dean. Of course, incoming freshman/early enrollee Andrew Brown will garner a lot of attention at tackle, but he has a lot to learn. At end, starter Eli Harold is back, and fellow rising junior Mike Moore may be a player to watch for a starting job at the other end. Rising junior Kwontie Moore always bears watching after moving from linebacker to end. Rising junior Trent Corney might've factored into the equation this spring, but he'll miss the practices due to injury.

4. Are there any players on the brink of possibly breaking out this spring?

Keep an eye on rising sophomore running back Taquan Mizzell. Rising senior Kevin Parks is clearly the man at running back for U.Va., but Mizzell should be more of a threat after having time to fully heal a balky ankle that limited him early last season. Wilkins, Mike Moore and linebacker Max Valles, who had four sacks last season, could be ready for bigger roles in coordinator Jon Tenuta's pass-rush-oriented defensive scheme. Rising sophomore Keeon Johnson made quite an impression as a late-season starter (20 catches for 282 yards and a touchdown). He's probably ready for more permanent starting responsibilities.

5. How will spring practice be different with a more veteran team?

With 22 rising seniors going into the spring compared to fewer than 10 last year, along with the return of both coordinators, U.Va. should have more continuity and retention. In order to foster more on-field teaching, which should help new defensive line coach Jerome Oliver and new safeties coach Mike Archer, U.Va. is going from four practices a week, which it used last spring, to three per week this spring. Getting more done with a veteran group should be a given, but the additional time to focus on honing skills could be valuable, especially for the quarterback group.